Abstract:

A brachytherapy device for treating tissue within a cavity of a body. The
device may include a first set of tubes configured to be inserted into
the cavity through an opening at the surface of the body. Each of the
tubes may have an external end and an interior channel beginning at the
external end that is configured to receive radioactive material. The
external ends of the tubes may be bundled together. The tubes may be of a
length that causes the external ends to be near the opening in the
surface of the body while the tubes are in the cavity. A seal may be
configured to prevent fluid that originates from the cavity from entering
into the external ends of the tubes while they are near the opening in
the surface of the body. The seal may include a gasket that is pressed
against the external ends of the tubes. The gasket may have openings that
align with channels within the external ends of the tubes.

Claims:

1. A brachytherapy device for treating tissue within a cavity of a body
comprising:a first set of tubes configured to be inserted into the cavity
through an opening at the surface of the body, each of the tubes having
an external end and an interior channel beginning at the external end
that is configured to receive radioactive material, the external ends of
the tubes being bundled together, the tubes being of a length that causes
the external ends to be near the opening in the surface of the body while
the tubes are in the cavity; anda seal configured to prevent fluid that
originates from the cavity from entering into the external ends of the
tubes while they are near the opening in the surface of the body.

2. The brachytherapy device of claim 1 wherein the external ends of the
tubes lie in substantially the same plane and wherein the seal includes a
substantially flat gasket that is pressed against the external ends of
the tubes.

3. The brachytherapy device of claim 2 wherein the gasket includes a
plurality of openings, each of which is aligned with one of the channels
in the tubes so as to allow radioactive material to be inserted into the
channel of the tube while preventing fluid that originates from the
cavity from entering into the external end of the tube.

4. The brachytherapy device of claim 3 wherein the external end of each
tube has a cross-section having an outer perimeter and wherein the
opening in the gasket that is pressed against each external end does not
at any point extend beyond the outer perimeter of the external end of the
tube.

5. The brachytherapy device of claim 4 further comprising an alignment
mechanism configured to cause each opening in the gasket that is pressed
against one of the external ends of the tubes to align with the channel
in the external end of the tube.

6. The brachytherapy device of claim 3 further comprising a cover
configured to cover the openings in the gasket.

7. The brachytherapy device of claim 6 wherein the cover is configured to
move from a closed position that covers the openings in the gasket to an
open position that exposes the openings in the gasket.

8. The brachytherapy device of claim 7 wherein the cover includes openings
through which radioactive material may be inserted that align with
openings in the gasket when the cover is in the open position.

9. The brachytherapy device of claim 8 wherein the openings in the cover
do not align with the openings in the gasket when the cover is in the
closed position.

10. The brachytherapy device of claim 8 wherein the cover includes an
alignment mechanism that is configured to facilitate alignment of the
cover with an afterloader.

11. The brachytherapy device of claim 10 wherein the alignment mechanism
includes a plurality of indentations within a surface of the cover.

12. The brachytherapy device of claim 7 wherein the cover is configured to
rotate about an axis while moving between the open and closed positions.

13. The brachytherapy device of claim 2 further comprising a fastener
configured to fasten the gasket to the tubes.

14. The brachytherapy device of claim 13 further comprising a hollow tube
surrounded by the ends of the first set of tubes, wherein the gasket
includes a central opening and the fastener includes a screw having a
shaft that passes through the central opening in the gasket and into the
hollow tube.

15. The brachytherapy device of claim 2 further comprising a sleeve around
the external ends of the tubes.

16. The brachytherapy device of claim 1 further comprising a second set of
tubes configured to be inserted into the cavity through the opening at
the surface of the body along with the first set of tubes, each of the
second set of tubes having an external end configured to be near the
opening in the surface of the body while the first and second sets of
tubes are inserted into the cavity, the external ends of the second set
of tubes being bundled together with the external ends of the first set
of tubes, wherein the external ends of the first and second sets of tubes
lie in substantially the same plane and wherein the seal includes a
substantially flat gasket that is pressed against the external ends of
the first and second sets of tubes.

17. The brachytherapy device of claim 16 wherein at least some of the
second set of tubes have an interior channel beginning at the external
end of the tube, and wherein the gasket has a plurality of openings, some
of which are aligned with channels in the first set of tubes and some of
which are aligned with channels in the second set of tubes.

18. The brachytherapy device of claim 17 further including an alignment
mechanism configured to align some of the openings in the gasket with the
channels in the first set of tubes, the alignment mechanism including at
least one pin configured to pass through one of the openings in the
gasket that aligns with a channel in one of the second sets of tubes and
through the corresponding channel in one of the second sets of tubes.

19. The brachytherapy device of claim 18 wherein the alignment mechanism
includes a plurality of pins, each configured to pass through one of the
openings in the gasket that aligns with a channel in one of the second
sets of tubes and through the corresponding channel in one of the second
sets of tubes.

20. The brachytherapy device of claim 16 wherein the second set of tubes
surround the first set of tubes.

21. A seal for a brachytherapy device that has tubes configured to be
inserted into a cavity through an opening at a surface of a body, each of
the tubes having an external end and an interior channel beginning at the
external end that is configured to receive radioactive material, the
external ends of the tubes being bundled together and lying in
substantially the same plane, the tubes being of a length that causes the
external ends to be near the opening in the surface of the body when the
tubes are in the cavity, the seal comprising:a substantially flat gasket
that is configured to be pressed against the external ends of the tubes,
the gasket having a plurality of openings oriented so as to be aligned
with the channels in the tubes when pressed against the external ends of
the tubes so as to allow radioactive material to be inserted into the
channels of the tubes while preventing fluid that originates from the
cavity from entering into the external ends of the tubes.

22. A brachytherapy process for treating tissue within a cavity of a body
comprising in the order recited:inserting a hollow set of tubes into the
cavity through an opening at the surface of the body;rotating a cover
from a closed position that covers entryways to the tubes to an open
position that opens the entryway to the tubes;inserting radioactive
material into at least one of the tubes while the cover is in the open
position;removing the radioactive material from the tubes; androtating
the cover to the closed position.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001]This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/741,670, entitled "Brachytherapy Device Having an
Alignment and Seal Adaptor," filed Apr. 27, 2007, attorney docket number
063344-0056, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by
reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002]1. Field

[0003]This disclosure relates to brachytherapy devices for treating
cancerous tissue surrounding a cavity of a body with radiation.

[0006]The tubes may be inserted into the cavity of a body through an
opening on the surface of the body, such as through an incision or a
natural opening. The tubes within the cavity may be expanded. Radioactive
material may be inserted within an interior channel in one or more of the
tubes and allowed to remain for a prescribed period of time.

[0007]The tubes may have external ends that are bundled together. A device
known as an afterloader may be coupled to the external ends of the tubes
and used to insert radioactive material into one or more of the tubes.
Radioactive material may instead be inserted manually.

[0008]The external ends of the tubes may be near the opening in the
surface of the body, such as protruding slightly beyond the opening. The
external ends of the tubes may not be coupled to the afterloader or
otherwise accessed for several hours or even days after the tubes are
inserted within the cavity. During this period, fluid, such as seroma,
may seep from the cavity through spacing between or surrounding the tubes
towards the external ends of the tubes. This fluid may enter the interior
channels of the tubes and solidify. This may impede the insertion of
radioactive material into the interior channels of the tubes and/or its
removal.

SUMMARY

[0009]A brachytherapy device for treating tissue within a cavity of a body
may include a first set of tubes configured to be inserted into the
cavity through an opening at the surface of the body. Each of the tubes
may have an external end and an interior channel beginning at the
external end that is configured to receive radioactive material, the
external ends of the tubes being bundled together. The tubes may be of a
length that causes the external ends to be near the opening in the
surface of the body while the tubes are in the cavity. A seal may be
configured to prevent fluid that originates from the cavity from entering
into the external ends of the tubes while they are near the opening in
the surface of the body.

[0010]The external ends of the tubes may lie in substantially the same
plane and the seal may include a substantially flat gasket that is
pressed against the external ends of the tubes.

[0011]The gasket may include a plurality of openings, each of which may be
aligned with one of the channels in the tubes so as to allow radioactive
material to be inserted into the channel of the tube while preventing
fluid that originates from the cavity from entering into the external end
of the tube.

[0012]The external end of each tube may have a cross-section having an
outer perimeter. The opening in the gasket that may be pressed against
each external end may not at any point extend beyond the outer perimeter
of the external end of the tube.

[0013]The brachytherapy device may include an alignment mechanism
configured to cause each opening in the gasket that may be pressed
against one of the external ends of the tubes to align with the channel
in the external end of the tube.

[0014]The brachytherapy device may include a cover configured to
controllably cover the openings in the gasket.

[0015]The cover may be configured to move from a closed position that
covers the openings in the gasket to an open position that exposes the
openings in the gasket.

[0016]The cover may include openings through which radioactive material
may be inserted that align with openings in the gasket when the cover is
in the open position.

[0017]The openings in the cover may not align with the openings in the
gasket when the cover is in the closed position.

[0018]The cover may include an alignment mechanism that is configured to
facilitate alignment of the cover with an afterloader. The alignment
mechanism may include a plurality of indentations within a surface of the
cover.

[0019]The cover may be configured to rotate about an axis while moving
between the open and closed positions.

[0020]The brachytherapy device may include a fastener configured to fasten
the gasket to the tubes.

[0021]The brachytherapy device may include a hollow tube surrounded by the
ends of the first set of tubes. The gasket may include a central opening.
The fastener may include a screw having a shaft that passes through the
central opening in the gasket and into the hollow tube.

[0022]The brachytherapy device may include a sleeve around the external
ends of the tubes.

[0023]The brachytherapy device may include a second set of tubes
configured to be inserted into the cavity through the opening at the
surface of the body along with the first set of tubes. Each of the second
set of tubes may have an external end configured to be near the opening
in the surface of the body while the first and second sets of tubes are
inserted into the cavity. The external ends of the second set of tubes
may be bundled together with the external ends of the first set of tubes,
and the external ends of the first and second sets of tubes may lie in
substantially the same plane. The seal may include a substantially flat
gasket that is pressed against the external ends of the first and second
sets of tubes.

[0024]At least some of the second set of tubes may have an interior
channel beginning at the external end of the tube. The gasket may have a
plurality of openings, some of which are aligned with channels in the
first set of tubes and some of which are aligned with channels in the
second set of tubes.

[0025]The brachytherapy device may include an alignment mechanism
configured to align some of the openings in the gasket with the channels
in the first set of tubes. The alignment mechanism may include at least
one pin configured to pass through one of the openings in the gasket that
aligns with a channel in one of the second sets of tubes and through the
corresponding channel in one of the second sets of tubes.

[0026]The alignment mechanism may include a plurality of pins, each
configured to pass through one of the openings in the gasket that aligns
with a channel in one of the second sets of tubes and through the
corresponding channel in one of the second sets of tubes.

[0027]The second set of tubes may surround the first set of tubes.

[0028]A seal may be provided for a brachytherapy device that has tubes
configured to be inserted into a cavity through an opening at a surface
of a body. The seal may include a substantially flat gasket that is
configured to be pressed against the external ends of the tubes. The
gasket may have a plurality of openings oriented so as to be aligned with
the channels in the tubes when pressed against the external ends of the
tubes so as to allow radioactive material to be inserted into the
channels of the tubes, while preventing fluid that originates from the
cavity from entering into the external ends of the tubes.

[0029]A brachytherapy process for treating tissue within a cavity of a
body may include inserting a hollow set of tubes into the cavity through
an opening at the surface of the body. A cover may be from a closed
position that covers entryways to the tubes to an open position that
opens the entryway to the tubes. Radioactive material may be inserted
into at least one of the tubes while the cover is in the open position.
Radioactive material may be removed from the tubes. The cover may be
rotated to the closed position.

[0030]These, as well as other components, steps, features, objects,
benefits, and advantages, will now become clear from a review of the
following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, the
accompanying drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031]The drawings disclose illustrative embodiments. They do not set
forth all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition or
instead. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to
save space or for more effective illustration. When the same numeral
appears in different drawings, it is intended to refer to the same or
like components or steps.

[0032]FIG. 1 illustrates a brachytherapy device after being inserted into
a breast and expanded.

[0033]FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the expanded portion of the
brachytherapy device illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0034]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the external end of the brachytherapy
device illustrated in FIG. 1 without a center tube.

[0035]FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a seal and alignment adapter
having a gasket, alignment disk, cover and screw.

[0036]FIG. 5 illustrates an assembled view of the seal and alignment
adapter illustrated in FIG. 4 with the alignment disk being transparent
and the cover in a closed position.

[0037]FIG. 6 illustrates an assembled view of the seal and alignment
adapter illustrated in FIG. 4 with the cover in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0038]Illustrative embodiments are now discussed. Other embodiments may be
used in addition or instead. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary
may be omitted to save space or for a more effective presentation.

[0039]FIG. 1 illustrates a brachytherapy device after being inserted into
a breast and being expanded. As shown in FIG. 1, a brachytherapy device
101 may be inserted into a cavity 103 in a breast 105. The brachytherapy
device 101 may include a set of expanded inner tubes 107 and a set of
expanded outer tubes 109. The inner tubes 107 and the outer tubes 109 may
have external ends 111 that are bundled together. A sleeve 113 may be
used to bundle the external ends 111 together. A clamp 115 may be used in
addition or instead to bundle the external ends 111 together. The clamp
115 may or may not be integral with the sleeve 113.

[0040]The length of the inner tubes 107 and the outer tubes 109 may be
such as to cause the external ends 111 to be near a surface 117 of the
breast 105, such as slightly protruding from it.

[0041]Although having illustrated and discussed one particular type of
brachytherapy device, any type of brachytherapy device may be used. More
details about the device that has been illustrated and described and
processes for causing it to be in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, as
well as other types of usable brachytherapy devices, are set forth in the
Prior Brachytherapy Patent Applications identified and incorporated by
reference above.

[0042]The cavity 103 may result from the resection of a tumor. The cavity
103 may in addition or instead be a naturally occurring cavity within the
body, such as a cavity within a bladder, vagina, rectum, colon,
subglottic region, stomach, bronchial tubes, nasopharynx region, and the
like.

[0043]FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the expanded portion of the
brachytherapy device illustrated in FIG. 1. It reveals details about the
inner tubes 107 and the outer tubes 109 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 also
illustrates a center tube 201 that may run through the center of the
inner tubes 107 and the outer tubes 109.

[0044]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the external ends 111 of the
brachytherapy device 101 illustrated in FIG. 1 without a center tube. As
illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the inner tubes 107 may have an external
end 301, and each of the outer tubes 109 may have an external end 303.
The external ends 301 and 303 may all lie in substantially the same
plane.

[0045]Each of the inner tubes 107 may have an interior channel 305
beginning at its external end 301 that may or may not be configured to
receive radioactive material. Similarly, each of the outer tubes 109 may
have an interior channel 307 beginning at its external end 303 that may
or may not be configured to receive radioactive material.

[0046]During use of the brachytherapy device 101, fluid, such as seroma,
may have seeped through spacing between the inner tubes 107 and the outer
tubes 109, through or around the center tube 201 and/or between the outer
perimeter of the outer tubes 109 and the tissue that surrounds them.
Unless stopped, this fluid may seep into the interior channels 305 and/or
307. In turn, this may impede the insertion of radioactive material
within one or more of these channels and/or its removal, particularly
after the seroma hardens.

[0047]FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a seal and alignment adaptor.
As shown in FIG. 4, the seal and alignment adaptor may include a gasket
401, an alignment disk 403, a cover 405, and a fastener, such as a screw
407.

[0048]The gasket 401 may include a set of inner openings 409, a set of
outer openings 411, and a central opening 413.

[0049]The inner openings 409 may be configured so as to align with the
external ends of the channels 305 in the inner tubes 107 when placed
against the inner tubes 107. Similarly, the outer openings 411 may be
configured to align with the external ends of some of the channels 307 in
the outer tubes 109. Similarly, the central opening 413 may be configured
to align with the opening in the center tube 201 at the external ends
111.

[0050]The openings 409 and/or 411 may be sized so as to permit radioactive
material to be inserted into the channels 305 and/or 307, respectively.
The openings 409 and/or 411 may also be sized so as not at any point to
exceed the perimeter of the cross section of any of the inner tubes 107
and/or the outer tubes 109 at their external ends 111. When so sized and
configured, and when the gasket 401 is pressed against the external ends
111 and its openings are aligned with the corresponding channels in the
inner tubes 107 and/or the outer tubes 109, radioactive material may be
inserted into one or more of these channels. Yet, fluid that may have
seeped toward the external ends 111 from within the cavity 103 may be
unable to enter any of the channels 305 and/or 307 due to the sealing
effect provided by the gasket 401.

[0051]The alignment disk 403 may include openings 414, which may be
configured to align with the inner openings 409 in the gasket 401. The
alignment disk 403 may include a gasket recess 415 sized to house the
gasket 401. The alignment disk 403 may include a central opening 417
configured to align with the central opening 413 in the gasket 401.

[0052]The alignment disk 403 may include a cover recess 418 configured to
house the cover 405. The alignment disk 403 may include an access port
429 that may be configured to provide user access to a tab 421 on the
cover 405 when the cover 405 is placed within the cover recess 418 of the
alignment disk 403.

[0053]The cover 405 may have openings 419 that are configured to align
with the openings 414 in the alignment disk 403 and the inner openings
409 in the gasket 401. The cover may include a central opening 423 that
is configured to align with the central opening 417 in the alignment disk
403 and the central opening 413 in the gasket 401.

[0054]The cover 405 my include an alignment mechanism to facilitate
alignment of the cover with an afterloader, such as depressions 425.
Depressions 425 may or may not go through the entire thickness of the
cover 405.

[0055]The screw 407 may be a threaded, self-tapping screw. It may be
configured to extend through a central opening 423 in the cover, the
central opening 417 in the alignment disk, and the central opening 413 in
the gasket, and to then screw into and engage a center bore of the center
tube 201 in the brachytherapy device 101. The screw 407 may be tightened
so as to ultimately press the gasket 401 against the external ends 111 of
the brachytherapy device 101 in an amount that is sufficient to prevent
fluid that has seeped toward the external ends 111 from further seeping
into the channels 305 of the inner tubes 107 and/or the channels 307 of
the outer tubes 109.

[0056]In an alternate configuration, a mechanism may be used to hold the
gasket 401, the alignment disk 403, and the cover 405 together and to
press the gasket 401 against the external ends 111 that does not occupy
the central openings 413, 417 and 423. This may leave these central
openings available for radioactive material to be inserted therein and
into center tube 201.

[0057]FIG. 5 illustrates an assembled view of the seal and alignment
adaptor illustrated in FIG. 4 with the alignment disk being transparent
and the cover in a closed position. As shown in FIG. 5, the alignment
disk 403 may include a plurality of pins 501 that protrude from the
gasket recess 415 in which the gasket 401 may reside. As shown in FIG. 5,
the pins 501 may be configured so as to align with several of the outer
openings 411 in the gasket 401 when the gasket 401 is within the gasket
recess 415.

[0058]The pins 501 may be configured to pass through these outer openings
411 and into some or all of the channels 307 of the outer tubes 109. The
pins 501 may have a taper that makes assembly easier. The taper of the
pins 501 may be selected so as to cause the pins 501 to fit snugly within
the openings 411 of the gasket 401 when the gasket is fully seated within
the gasket recess 415 and to fit snugly within the channels 307 of the
outer tubes 109 when the external ends 111 of the outer tubes 109 are
pressed fully against the gasket 401.

[0059]This snug fitting of the pins 501 may contribute to more precise
alignment between the channels 305 in the inner tubes 107 and the inner
openings 409 in the gasket 401, the openings 414 in the alignment disk
403, and the openings 419 in the cover 405. An alignment mechanism other
than the pins 501 may be used in addition or instead. For example, the
pins 501 could instead be integral with the gasket 401, in which case
there might not be any outer openings 411 in the gasket 401.

[0060]FIG. 6 illustrates an assembled view of the seal and alignment
adaptor illustrated in FIG. 4 with the cover in a closed position. When
the cover 405 is in the position shown in FIG. 6, the tab 421 may be
pushed against the uppermost portion of the access port 427. While in
this closed position, the openings 419 in the cover 405 may not align
with the openings 414 in the alignment disk 403 and the inner openings
409 in the gasket 401. This may effectively block the channels 305 in the
inner tubes 107 from being loaded with radioactive material and from
otherwise being contaminated. When the cover 405 is rotated
counterclockwise by pushing the tab 421 toward the bottom portion of the
access port 427 in the alignment disk 403, the openings 419 in the cover
405 may become fully aligned with the openings 414 in the alignment disk
403 and the inner openings 409 in the gasket 401. In this position, the
channels 305 in the inner tubes 107 may be loaded with radioactive
material inserted through the openings 419 in the cover 405.

[0061]The brachytherapy devices that have thus-far been described may be
used in a variety of applications.

[0062]For example, a tumor may be resected from the breast 105 shown in
FIG. 1. A balloon may be inserted into the cavity that is created as a
result and inflated. Later, the balloon may be deflated and removed. The
cavity may instead be a naturally occurring cavity, such as a cavity in a
bladder, vagina, rectum, colon, subglottic region, stomach, bronchial
tubes, nasopharynx region, or the like.

[0063]The sleeve 113 may be inserted into the cavity. The inner tubes 107
and the outer tubes 109, while in an elongated and collapsed state, may
be threaded through the sleeve 113 and into the cavity 103 of the breast
105. The inner tubes 107 and the outer tubes 109 may then be expanded to
the positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Apparatus for accomplishing
this may include any of the devices disclosed in the Prior Brachytherapy
Patent Applications identified and incorporated by reference above.

[0064]The clamp 115 may be tightened and portions of the inner tubes 107
and the outer tubes 109 that extend substantially beyond the clamp 115
may be cut off. The seal and alignment adaptor illustrated in FIG. 4 may
be coupled to the external ends 111 of the brachytherapy device 101 by
aligning the pins 501 that protrude from the rear of the alignment disk
403 and that protrude through the gasket 401 with the corresponding
channels 307 in the outer tubes 109. The screw 407 may be inserted into
the central opening 423 of the cover, the central opening 417 of the
alignment disk, the central opening 413 of the gasket, and into the
opening of the center tube 201. The screw 407 may be tightened until the
gasket 401 is pressed against the external ends 111 of the brachytherapy
device 101 with sufficient force to prevent fluid from entering the
channels 305 in the inner tubes 107 and/or the channels 307 in the outer
tubes 109. The tab 421 may be moved to the closed position, if not
already in this position.

[0065]When ready for treatment, the tab 421 may be moved to the open
position. The alignment depressions 425 may be aligned with an
afterloader. The afterloader may be directed to insert radioactive
material into one or more of the channels 305 in the inner tubes 107
through the openings 419. The radioactive material may instead be
inserted manually.

[0066]The radioactive material may include or consist of any type of
radioactive material, including material that is itself radioactive, such
as radioactive pellets, radioactive seeds, radioactive liquid, and/or
radioactive wires, and/or radioactive sources that contain radioactive
material, such as encapsulated radioactive pellets or seeds, radioactive
particles suspended in liquid, and/or radioactive seeds or pellets
embedded in wires of other types of strands. When multiple units of
radioactive material are inserted into a channel, the units may be spaced
apart. The radioactive material may be left within one or more of the
channels 305, following which it may be removed.

[0067]In some cases, a unit of radioactive material may be allowed to
dwell at different locations within the same channel. In some cases, a
unit of radioactive material may be removed from one channel and placed
within another channel.

[0068]When a radioactive treatment session is complete, the radioactive
material may be removed from all of the channels and the cover 405 may be
closed by rotating the tab 421 clockwise.

[0069]During a subsequent treatment, the cover 405 may again be opened by
rotating the tab 421 counterclockwise to the open position and by
repeating this or a different treatment regimen.

[0070]When all of the radiation treatments have been completed, the clamp
115 may be released and removed. The inner tubes 107 and the outer tubes
109 may be allowed to collapse and elongate. The inner tubes 107 and the
outer tubes 109 may be completely removed from the cavity 103, along with
the sleeve 113.

[0071]The openings 419 in the cover 405, the openings 414 in the alignment
disk 403, and the inner openings 409 in the gasket 401 may be of any
size. In one embodiment, the openings 419 in the cover 405 may be larger
than the openings 414 in the alignment disk 403, which may be larger than
the inner openings 409 in the gasket 401, thereby making it easier for
the afterloader to insert radioactive material into the channels 305 or
for this material to be inserted manually. In one embodiment, the
openings 419 in the cover 405 may be approximately 70 thousandths of an
inch, the openings 414 in the alignment disk 403 may be approximately 50
thousandths of an inch, the inner openings 409 in the gasket 401 may be
slightly larger than approximately 40 thousandths of an inch, and the
channels 305 in the inner tubes 107 may be approximately 40 thousandths
of an inch. These openings may be tapered from wide to narrow so as to
further facilitate the smooth entry of radioactive material from the
afterloader or by manual means into the channels 305 in the inner tubes
107.

[0072]The components of the seal and alignment adaptor that is shown in
FIG. 4 may be made of any material. For example, the gasket may be made
of a flexible material, such as silicone, and other components, such as
the alignment disk, may be made from an acrylic or a polycarbonate-like
material, such as Lexan.

[0073]The components, steps, features, objects, benefits and advantages
that have been discussed are merely illustrative. None of them, nor the
discussions relating to them, are intended to limit the scope of
protection in any way. Numerous other embodiments are also contemplated,
including embodiments that have fewer, additional, and/or different
components, steps, features, objects, benefits and advantages. The
components and steps may also be arranged and ordered differently.

[0074]For example, the seal that is used may not necessarily be a gasket,
as illustrated in FIG. 4. Instead, a powerful clamp may be used that
pinches closed the external ends 111 of the channels 305. The seal might
in addition or instead be material, such as silicone, that is inserted
temporarily into the channels 305.

[0075]The bundled external ends 111 may also not necessarily be in a
circular arrangement, such as is illustrated in FIG. 3. The bundle may
instead have rectangular shape or any other shape.

[0076]Although inner and outer tubes have thus-far been illustrated, the
brachytherapy device may have only one level of tubes. The number of the
inner or outer tubes or of only single-level tubes may be greater or
less.

[0077]Although radioactive material has thus-far been described as being
inserted into the inner tubes, radioactive material may in addition or
instead be inserted into one or more of the outer tubes, either at the
same time or times as radioactive material is inserted into one or more
of the inner tubes, or at one or more different times.

[0078]The phrase "means for" when used in a claim embraces the
corresponding structures and materials that have been described and their
equivalents. Similarly, the phrase "step for" when used in a claim
embraces the corresponding acts that have been described and their
equivalents. The absence of these phrases means that the claim is not
limited to any of the corresponding structures, materials, or acts or to
their equivalents.

[0079]Nothing that has been stated or illustrated is intended to cause a
dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage,
or equivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is recited in the
claims.

[0080]In short, the scope of protection is limited solely by the claims
that now follow. That scope is intended to be as broad as is reasonably
consistent with the language that is used in the claims and to encompass
all structural and functional equivalents.